What you see is what you get……. birds, animals, and all sorts of things, but remember; Work for a cause, not for applause. Live life to express, not to impress. Don't strive to make your presence noticed, just make your absence felt. .

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Crocodile… the Nile Crocodile..

Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus)

Never buy one as a pet… it will bite you, guaranteed… it’s the second largest living reptile in the world, after the saltwater crocodile (don’t buy one of these also, you can’t take it out for a walk on the beach, it’ll take to the sea and you’ll lose it)

The male crocodile measure from 3.5 to 5 m (11 ft. 6 in to 16 ft. 5 in) long, but the old, mature ones can grow to 5.5 m (18 ft. 1 in) or more. Mature females measure 2.4 to 3.8 m (7 ft. 10 in to 12 ft. 6 in). Now that could be a bit big to carry around on your shoulder…

The nostrils, eyes, and ears are situated on the top of the head, so the rest of the body can remain concealed underwater. This is not good news for those that swim in rivers like I did years ago, or for that matter for their prey. They can lie still in an ambush position for hours, days, weeks and, I wanted to say months, but that might be stretching it a little far, till their prey has entered the kill zone.

A short sharp swish of the tail and it will lock its jaws on its prey with an extremely powerful bite, unique amongst animals with sharp conical teeth that pierce into flesh allowing for a grip that is impossible to loosen. Applying high levels of force for extended periods of time, a great way to aid it drown you or its prey.

Don’t be fooled by that grin and smiley face, he wants you to have a false sense of security… then he can eat you… the lazy so and so…

This must be considered the laziest predator alive, what with swimming all day or sunning yourself on the banks and then lying around in the water waiting for your prey to get near enough to you to catch it….

Nile crocodiles are sociability orientated creatures. They’ll share tanning spots and large food, such as schools of fish and big carcasses. There is however a strict hierarchy, that is determined by size. Large, old males are at the top and have first claim to food and best basking spots. Crocodiles know their place in the hierarchical order and rarely step out of line, as this could results in a very bloody and sometimes even fatal battle.

As an eye opens to see if I’m close enough to eat… no my friend I’m on full zoom…

Nile crocodiles lay eggs to reproduce, (wonder if one could pickle them) which are guarded by the female. The hatchlings are protected for a period of time, but hunt by themselves. The Nile crocodile is one of the most dangerous species of crocodile and is responsible for hundreds of deaths of humans every year.

That spinning move they do when they’re busy drowning their victim is the true stuff of nightmares!

I can’t remember if it was specifically about this croc or just crocs in general, but I saw a documentary about them some time ago where they said they actually don’t eat their food straight away, they don’t have those kinds of teeth to chew with. They drown the prey and wedge it somewhere underwater to rot and when it’s nice and soft from decomp they swallow chunks of it later. Also, I believe their eggs turn out either male of female, depending on the temperature they’re kept at…fascinating creatures.

I would not want to share the water with these animals. There was a recent video by National Geographic making the circuit of a jaguar stalking a cayman. it was pretty interesting. You can find it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBNYwxDZ_pA

Any stretch of water with a triangle of bumps sticking out of it is not to be trusted! A 5,5 m specimen is very scary to contmeplate.
Lovely clear photos.
I always think of ‘Jim’s Circus Crocodile’ in Jock of the Bushveld when reading about how they can lurk beneath the water and look like submerged logs.

How right you are Col.. I heard the other day that our rivers that run west have no crocs in them, have you heard that??? Find it hard to believe, but then when you go down to the Orange, specially near Upinton area all the locals will tell you that…

It would appear that is correct. I know the Orange once had hippo, but I think it has always been regarded as outside of crocodile range. We certainly didn’t even think of the possibility when swimming there!

I saw a documentary recently where a news reporter and crew went scuba diving on the hunt for these creatures! I would need an awfully powerful zoom to get a photo like you have Bulldog. We are planning a trip to Florida this winter and I am already fretting about alligators and crocodiles.

Anneli, Africa is a poor continent and many of the poor go down to the rivers to wash clothes, bath and even fish for food… I’m afraid that is when the crocs strike… I’ve seen these things (big ones) lying just off the bank and all you see are their nostrils, you can’t see him under the water as he is so well camouflaged… and with a tail flick they are lightening fast to grab you, and I’m afraid you have little to no chance against even a smallish one… as a youngster my Dad was asked to go and shoot one in the then Rhodesia as it was causing havoc with the cattle on a farm.. he shot it in the water and when we went out in the boat one could not believe such a smallish croc could pull a full grown cow into the water and drown it…

Awesome shots. I agree, so ugly, it’s beautiful. I like yourself, loved swimming in rivers when I was growing up. Since moving to Florida, we have rivers filled with alligators, takes the fun out of it. But…at least I get to swim in the ocean, not too many sharks around. 😉